Your gut microbiome is made up of trillions of bacteria, fungi & other microbes. The gut microbiome plays a very important role in your health by helping control digestion and benefiting your immune system and many other aspects of health.

A fact that I only learnt about the other day from WedMD…is that the mucous lining your gut wall contains 70% of the cells that make up your entire immune system.

This means health issues such as allergies, asthma, arthritis, cancer and most autoimmune diseases, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), acne and chronic fatigue are most probably be gut related.
And because your gut is connected to your brain through the gut-brain axis, whatever affects your gastrointestinal tract also affects your brain.
Mood disorders like anxiety, depression, autism & dementia, have also been scientifically linked to digestive issues.

They say our guts contain 500 species and three pounds of bacteria.
And, according to studies, we have more than 10 times the amount of bacterial cells in our body than actual human cells.
When our delicate microbiome is disturbed by stress, poor diet, medications & toxins, it can result in a lowered immune response disease.
This is where prebiotics & probiotics work their magic together!

Prebiotics increase the diversity of your good bacteria – just what you want to keep your gut healthy. While all prebiotics are fiber, not all fiber has the same beneficial effects on friendly bacteria. And just like other fibrous foods, prebiotics are not digested as they go through your upper digestive track. They need to be fermented or broken down by microflora in your colon.

In order to correct the dysbiosis (high ratio of bad bacteria in the gut) and heal the inflammation that leads to IBS, crohn’s, colitis, pouchitis, SIBO, leaky gut and more you must create a diverse, healthy ratio of good bacteria.

Prebiotics travel through your digestive system, they become nutrient sources that feed beneficial bacteria that play a crucial role in immunity.

What everyone needs to know…is that we all need sufficient prebiotics in order for our probiotics to survive and do their job properly!

When it comes to probiotics, there are between 500 and 1000 strains of microorganisms in the average persons intestinal tract.

We now know that typical probiotic supplements that contain Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria do not create better diversity, and do not survive stomach acids and digestion in sufficient numbers.

The truth is, 90 per cent of all yogurts you buy at the store are useless and are likely even worsening the state of your gut, since harmful bacteria thrive on sugar and carbohydrates.
Left unchecked, the situation can eventually lead to such things as leaky gut, inflammation as well as toxic overload. For anyone trying to lose weight, excessive bacteria in your gut also affects fat-regulating hormones like insulin, which further causes you to crave more junk food and makes it harder to lose weight.

Trying to rebuild the flora in an unhealthy gut, is something that can be done.

Some tips on how to create a healthy gut, from The Chronicle Herald ;

Don’t take any unnecessary medications, especially antibiotics.

Today, these potentially life-saving drugs are prescribed too easily.
If you must take them, always take probiotics to restore the healthy bacteria antibiotics kill.

Good source probiotics are cultured or fermented foods, including organic, raw, whole milk, plain yogurt and kefir (pasteurized at relatively low temperatures), as well as kombucha, kimchi or other fermented vegetables.

You can also take a good probiotic supplement with a variety of different bacteria strains at high counts (50 billion is good).

Stay away from processed foods, sugar, preservatives and alcohol.

Make sure to add good prebiotic sources to your diet as well, such as onions, garlic and even under-ripe bananas.

As your gut environment improves you will quickly find you have more energy, look healthier and your health issues will begin to improve or even disappear.

The Role of Probiotics & Prebiotics was last modified: January 22nd, 2018 by Tammy Grassi

It’s Important to Take Both Prebiotics and Probiotics – Learn Why

Probiotics ranked as the third most commonly used supplement in a study by theNational Health Statistics Report. It’s not surprising, probiotic research has been at the forefront of preventative medicine and study for the past 5 years. We’ve learned the importance of gut health and how it influences every system in our body from our gastrointestinal tract to our neurotransmitters. We know we need to keep on top of our health by supplementing with probiotics from time to time, especially after going on antibiotics. For some people probiotics are necessary on a daily basis to manage a GI condition. Just about everyone knows the importance of having good gut bacteria these days. What few people know about though, is the importance of prebiotics.

Prebiotics are the food for our good gut bacteria. It’s actually easier to grow the bacteria already in our gut, keep it strong, and increase our good gut bacteria by feeding it with prebiotics, also known as fiber.

What exactly are Prebiotics?

Prebiotics act as a “gut fertilizer” to feed the good gut bacteria in our GI Tract. They are a type of indigestible fiber called oligosaccharides which are found in certain plant foods. Some of the plants that contain oligosaccharides are jerusalem artichokes, dandelion greens, onions, jicama and asparagus.

The recommended amount of this fiber is at least 25 grams every day.

If it seems difficult to get prebiotic fiber in your normal daily diet then you may want to consider taking a prebiotic supplement.

We recommend Perfect Pass Prebiotics to all of our clients taking probiotics. Over the past few years many of our clients were able to lower their dose of probiotics once they were taking Perfect Pass Prebiotics. This brand stands out from the others because it’s made from partially hydrolyzed guar gum, known as PHGG. Read More about the benefits of PHGG by clicking here. This type of prebiotic doesn’t cause any side effects and can be safely used by people who have SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth). It also reduces the symptoms in patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Click Here to learn more.

It’s the perfect fertilizer for your good bacteria to grow.

If you haven’t used Perfect Pass Prebiotics yet, now is the time to try it. Pair it wth any probiotics you are taking to grow the numbers of good bacteria in your gut and increase their efficacy. We recommend the Combo Pack.

Probiotics and Prebiotics for Gut Health was last modified: December 15th, 2017 by Sheryl Cohen

Probiotics and Prebiotics, A perfect Combination for Good Gut Health

By now just about everyone knows that probiotics are good for your gut health. Having a strong immune system and good digestion is dependent upon having a large number of good, beneficial bacteria in your gut. But did you know that Prebiotics are beneficial for your gut?

Prebiotics are the easiest way to Feed the good Gut Bacteria.

That’s right, you need to take care of the good bacteria is by making sure they are well fed.

How do you Feed The Good Bacteria in Your Gut?

Prebiotic Fiber are a type of fiber called oligosaccharides. These oligosaccharides are found in foods like jerusalem artichoke, dandelion greens, onions and jicama.

What are the Foods which Contain Prebiotic Soluble Fiber?

While probiotic foods are essential for gut health and overall well-being, prebiotics help “feed” probiotics. By pairing these two together, you can achieve an even better result.

Sometimes it may hard to get Prebiotic Fiberin our normal daily diet and it’s necessary to supplement with prebiotics.

Perfect Pass Prebiotics are made from partially hydrolyzed guar gum, known as PHGG. This type of prebiotic is called a galactomannan. Hydrolyzed Guar Gum doesn’t cause any side effects that can be commonly associated with prebiotics.

Perfect Pass Prebiotics is one of the only prebiotics that can be safely used by people who have SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth). It is the perfect fertilizer for your good bacteria to grow.

If you haven’t used Perfect Pass Probiotic yet, now is the time to try it. Pair it wth any probiotics you are taking to grow the numbers of good bacteria in your gut and increase their efficacy.

Click Here to read about howPHGG helps those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, increases the concentration of good bacteria strains in the colon and helps reduce symptoms of acute diarrhea.

Feed Your Gut With Prebiotics was last modified: October 5th, 2017 by Sheryl Cohen

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disorder that affects the large bowel or the colon. This disorder is the inflammation of the colon, which is responsible for gathering and storing excess waste from digestion. If you have colitis and want to treat it naturally, there are many options available to you.

Various circumstances may cause inflammation of the colon and result in colitis, such as an autoimmune disease, infection or an overgrowth of bad bacteria. The symptoms of colitis are typically sporadic and come and go with fairly long periods in-between flare-ups. Some patients will have no symptoms in between these periods of flare-ups.

What are the Symptoms of Colitis?

The first symptom of ulcerative colitis is a progressive loosening of the stool. The stool is generally bloody and may be associated with cramping, abdominal pain and severe urgency to use the bathroom. The diarrhea may begin slowly or quite suddenly.

Other symptoms are loss of appetite, weight loss and fatigue. In addition, there may be skin lesions, joint pain, eye inflammation, and liver disorders.

When young children have Ulcerative Colitis they may fail to develop or grow properly.

Approximately half of all patients with Ulcerative Colitis have mild symptoms. However, others may suffer with more severe symptoms such as abdominal cramping, bloody diarrhea, nausea, and fever.

There are supplements that help with colitis like prebiotics and probiotics. Many of those suffering with Colitis have found that changing their diets has a significant impact on their symptomsand flare-ups. Other people opt for natural treatments that compliment their treatment protocol described by their doctors.

Depending on how you manage your diet, the symptoms can range from intense to remission.

What Are Natural Ways You Can Manage Colitis?

Avoiding foods that trigger an allergic response. Keep a food journal to write down what you are eating. Foods which typically are not agreeable for Colitis sufferers are wheat, gluten, soy, dairy, eggs and GMO corn.

Eat a diet rich in prebiotic. Prebiotics grow the good bacteria in your gut. Try adding Jerusalem artichokes, dandelion greens, garlic, onion, leeks and asparagus to your meals. If you want additional fiber you can easily supplement withPerfect Pass Prebiotic. Just add a scoop to water, juice or a smoothie daily.

Cut down on sugar or eliminate it completely. Supplement with honey, stevia, brown rice syrup, coconut sugar, or xylitol.

Add a spore based probiotic to your daily routine. The imbalance of bacteria is thought to bea potential cause of Ulcerative Colitis. We recommend taking 2 capsules daily of Perfect Pass Probiotic to add in more good bacteria which crowds out the bad bacteria. Several studies have shown that probiotics help reduce the symptoms during flareups.

If your symptoms become severe, it is important for you to seek medical help. Persistent diarrhea, feelings of weakness, dehydration, and fever can all indicate serious concerns and you will want to be under a doctors care.

Check out a Natural Approach to Colitis Relief was last modified: September 19th, 2017 by Sheryl Cohen

Ross Pelton, The Natural Pharmacist talks with us about the Microbiome, dysbiosis and pathobiome. Click Here to see his interview.

Our gut microbiome is made up of over 100 trillion organisms, it’s a delicate balance which is made up of both good and bad bacteria. Hopefully more good.

What is Dysbiosis?

Essentially it’s when your good gut bacteria is out of balance with your bad gut bacteria. When the good outweighs the bad you have dysbiosis. Ross calls Microbiome dysbiosis the ‘pathobiome’.

When you have dysbiosis or a ‘pathobiome’ you will experience symptoms.

What are the pathobiome Symptoms?

gas

bloating

diarrhea

constipation

When you have these symptoms it’s important not to ignore them.

These symptoms are your bodies warning signs.

Think of them as red flags that something is wrong.

What does a pathobiome lead to?

gastrointestinal disorders like IBS, Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis

extraintestinal disorders such as asthma, allergies, heart disease and obesity

mood disorders such as depression and anxiety

ADResearch compiled by theUS National Library of Medicine from over 90 different studies in the last 10 years states that, “there is growing evidence that dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is associated with the pathogenesis of both intestinal and extra-intestinal disorders.”

Why do people get an upset microbiome?

Antibiotics are the #1 reason; antibiotics kill all the good bacteria.

Not feeding your probiotics; you need to fertilize the good bacteria with prebiotic foods or a prebiotic supplement

“Remember every time you eat you are feeding 100 trillion guests.” thats good advice from Ross Pelton.

Stay tuned for part 3 of our talk with Ross Pelton on Gut Health coming in two weeks.

Ross Pelton is a pharmacist and a true expert on pharmaceutical drugs and their life-altering side effects. He is also a clinical nutritionist and helps people with diet, nutrition and natural therapies.

He truly is an expert in helping his clients integrate the best of both worlds to improve their health.